The National tribune., 1887-03-03

The simple question is what ought the Govern
ment to do for this class of soldiers? This being
determined, the country IS fully able 10 do it with
out creating any burden that will be felt by the
people.
Mr.. WARMER, OF MISSOURI:
Mr.. Speaker. are this day TO choose whether
representatives OF the American people we will
stand by the brave of 81 and Is who preserved
II Nation. vino are dependent upon their daily
labor for support. and vino by reason of old age,
disease or misfortune are unable TO earn living,
or whether we will stand by the President who re-
fuses to sign bill that is intended to keep these
old veterans out OF the almshouses OF the country
Thus Nation should blush to one OF the least OF
these its defenders the Inmate Of the County poor
house. or his widow begging bread. As these men
when their step was firm did not hesitate to cast
aside pury ties in the defense of the Nations life
in the day Of her extremity. let Us this day turn
deaf TO the dictates OF party and by our votes
show the Nations gratitude toward these destitute
and dependent veterans who with their comrades,
living and dead, by their valor, trials and suffer
ings dedicated every inch Of American soil to free
dom and strengthened the Union OF the states
established by the fathers.
As for me. rather than do an injustice to these
old soldiers, would sink my party. IL Is, fear
popular ia some quarters To- magnify what the
Nation has done for its defenders and mt the same
time beittle what they did for the Nation. There
persons now living who were young able bodied
during that gigantic struggle for the life of the
Nation. who remained at hoppe pTeferTing the ease
comforts and pleasures OF the drawing room or the
club to the trials, priyntiOns and dangers OF the
camp the march. or the battlefield; they then
turned deaf ear To the cry of patriotism. as now
to the cry OF distress fron the old and destitute sol
diers Of the Republic who left the farm the bench
the desk, the Office. the schOol-Toom the college,
the pulpit and went forth the American volun-
teerS. imbued with the heroism OF an Arnold Win
kelried and the dauntlcss courage OF n Marshal
Ney-the chosen apostles of liberty, Union and the
rights OF man-then they were acclaimed as pa
triois; now, II, broken In health, old and destitute.
unable TO earn a living 10y manual labor. upon
which they are dependent for daily bread, they
venture To asks n small pttance from the General
Government they are denounced ~ paupers and
beGgars.
liza olden time there arose up a new King over
Egypt which knew not Joseph" History repeats
itself Let others do as they may, viii stand by
my comrades in their distress and want. Their
cause shall be my cause. This veto message Mr..
/ Speaker. in my Judgment. does violence to the
sense OF justice OF tie American people ana trust
does not voice the sentiment OF any political party
or Of the brave men who fought the side OF the
COnfeder1cy. IL may reflect the sentiments and
meet the approval of those who were in favor of
/ the war. but against its prosecution, and who,
like Jobs horse, snuiTed the battle from aiar.
Did the fact that two-thiFds Of the survivors OF
the Mexican war live I'm Southern States induce the
President TO give his approval TO the bill placing
| them, rieh and poor, on the pension rolls? His
veto of this bill, passed the day, less lib
era in lis terms. for the relief of exUniOn soldiers
who are dependent upon charity, private or public.
for food aud raiment, il has been stated by high
authority, gives him a solid South. How FAR did
the hope OF gaining such prize lead him? III this
i was a "consummatiOn deyoutly to be wished
/ u language cold, offensive and degrading towards
the veterans Of the Of the rebellion could en-
able him 10 obtain it, then he has earned the re-
ward
Let those in authority give vitality to the promise
! of grateful Government when IL pledged itself
10 care for him who shall have borne tire battle,
and for his widow and orphans" Let not this
statute be as idle mockery as was the statute of
4 liberty in whose shadow the patriots of France
were guilloiined. or lfeless as the grinning
mummy In the caiacombs Of Egypt Let this stat
ute enacted in the days OF the Nations extremity.
be literally construed and faithfully enforced in the
i day Of the Nations prosperity toward those who
/ rendered that prosperity possible Let the per-
| formance OF the Nation be equal to her promise
! LIT her not be rs one that keeps the word oi
| promise 10 our aud breaks II TO our hope"
The fact that the soldier of the Republic fought
\ at Shiloh. Stone River. Antetam. Nicksburg, Get
! tysburg, ChickamaugR. Spotsylvania, the Wilder
1 ness, Atlanta TO the sea, or Appomstiox, Is nc
longer regarded "a a reason for his appointment to
retention in office. The fact that the citizen n,
! the call of duty. imbued with love of country
went forth the Americau volunteer soldier OF
sailor with " heroism that was patriotic and with
patriotism that was heroic. no longer comments
him 10 the powers that be. Ifhis honorable wounds
broken body. aud des,i.,itioh are urged as reason
for his appointment to OF retention in Office he /:
characterized ~ a begghr, nIendicant.
Poor naked soldiers. wheresoe'r you are,
That bide the peltng of this pitiless storm,
How shall your houssless heads and uufed sides
Your looped and Widowed raggedness defent
! From seasons such as these"
MR. o'HARA, OF NORTH CAROLINA.
There Is ono portion Of the bill about which TN,
President has been silent. and that i the first sec
ton providing for the relief Of dependent parents
That class Of people who gave their sons TO the
country at the time OF its greatest peril, class
/ people that peculiarly represent, debarred by
| an unjust ruling in the Department. The moihe r.
country are met with this ruling when the,
! approach your Pension Office. The mother
1 says; Il gave to a country which looked upon mt
with scOrn my as her defenders and am TO day
without strength To support me because those meI
gave their blood and their lives that their country
might live" Their is decision of this Govern
nn Al
| Won were slaves and, therefore. although you
sons may havesdied upon the battlefield you
country will turn you aside with scorn.r
| This. sir. = unjust-unjust To that noble banc
who, though they knew their country spurneS
them, came forward aud gave their lives for its de
Z fenSe.
sir. il is not as the President would indicate tina
these men went for dollars and cents. The Iftl
and 18th Mass, composed entirely OF colOred men
went out and nobly did their duty; but when TIN
Paymaster Of the Government met them he said
| "You are soldiers of this Government, but you
skin is black, and we will give you less than w
give Your white comrades" They spurned il ant
said: No we are in this contest for liberty and
! YOU cannot pay us the full measure you pay /,
other soldiers. we will fight for our flag and on
| country without compensation" Applause
That the colored soldiers in our late civil wn
were not bummers, camp followers, nor special!
provided for with bOmbproof position. but tina
they discharged their duty faithfully and well,
quote in evidence in their behalf the testimony o
Gen. b. r. Butler given in speech delivered ol
the floor of this House on the 9th day of January
tember, 1864. | ordered by the commanding
| general officer of the armies to cross the Jame
] River at two points aud attack the enemys line q
works one in the center Of their line. Fort Harri
, ! son. the other a strong work guarding their lei
, flank at New Market llights. l went myself wit
the coloTed troops tn attack the enemy mt NeN
| Market Hglts which the key to- the enemy
flank on the north side Of James River. Thu
work was a redoubt built on the top of a hill c
r some considerable elevation, then running dow
I into a marsh; in that marsh was "A brook. then ri.
, ing again to plain which gently rolled away tC
, ward the river
, ION that plain when the fash Of dawn wa
breaking placed n column OF 3 600 colored troop
in close column by divisions. right in front. wit
guns at right shoulder shift | said that woT
: must be taken by the weight Of your column n
shot must be fired: and as the up in th
heavens the order given. Forward. march;
and they marched forward steadily as IL on paTad
went down the hill, across the marsh and q
: they go, into the brook they came within range